Data bite: Requests for emergency assistance up in U.S.

January 13, 2004

Data bite

Requests for emergency food and shelter assistance have increased over the past year in the 25 cities surveyed by the U.S. Conference of Mayors. Requests for help with food increased by an average of 17 percent over 2002 and requests for shelter increased by an average of 13 percent. About 56 percent of the cities surveyed reported that people in need of food were turned away because of a lack of resources. The findings were released in mid-December by the conference and Sodexho, a food and facilities management services company.